Rio Grande Valley RBA
June 25, 2009

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Originated from: National Birding Hotline Cooperative
Date:         Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:14:58 -0400
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From: Mary Gustafson <live4birds@AOL.COM>
Subject: RBA: Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley Hotline, June 25, 2009
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Don't forget to register for the South Padre Island Pelagics!  See 
http://www.texaspelagics.com/ for info on the July 25, August 29, and 
September 19 pelagic.  Register by calling (956) 761-3000.  
Registration will open shortly for the November 15 pelagic.

RBA
.
* Texas
* Lower Rio Grande Valley
* June 25, 2009
.
+ (Details requested by TBRC - Mark.Lockwood AT tpwd.state.tx.us)
.
Our rare bird alert includes recent reports of...
.
+Masked Duck (status unknown)
Yellow-green Vireo
Mangrove Warbler
.
hotline: Texas Parks and Wildlife - Lower Rio Grande Valley Birding
Hotline number: (956) 584-2731
to report: rgvbirds AT hotmail.com (preferred) or (956) 584-2731 option 
3
compilers: Mary Gustafson (Rio Grande Joint Venture) and Jennifer Owen
(Estero Llano Grande State Park).
We’re also on the web at http://www.rgvbirds.blogspot.com!
.
- Transcript
.
Thank you for calling the Lower Rio Grande Valley Birding Hotline 
sponsored by Estero Llano Grande State Park, Texas Parks and Wildlife, 
and the World Birding Center. This hotline is normally updated 
Thursdays by 5 PM.  Please send observations to Texbirds or to the 
hotline email address.  Thank you to those who sent reports!
.
This is a general reminder that tapes are not allowed in Texas State 
Parks and many LRGV birding sites.  All State Park visitors must stay 
on trails.  Thank you for not disturbing the wildlife or damaging the 
vegetation.
.
Bird
ing site closures: Quinta Mazatlan is closed on Sunday and Monday, 
and Valley Nature Center is closed Sunday morning and Monday.  
Audubon’s Sabal Palm Sanctuary is closed, access is restricted to 
pre-arranged groups until October 15.  Frontera Audubon Sanctuary is 
closed on Sundays.
.
Arctic breeding birds are finding severe conditions and returning south 
early.  Shorebirds are in good numbers very early this year.
.
The RGV Report, generally from E to W.
.
Mangrove Warblers are a well-marked subspecies of Yellow Warbler that 
may be distinct enough to warrant full species status.  For more 
information on seeing Mangrove (Yellow) Warbler contact the Sealife 
Center at (956) 299-1957.
.
Magnificent Frigatebirds are seen almost daily near South Padre Island.
.
At Laguna Atascosa, there is a temporary site closure due to 
construction for the trail out to Alligator Pond.  This is the site 
where two female-plumaged Masked Ducks were present through May 30.  
Call the refuge for access information at (956) 748-3607. This is a 
TBRC Review Species.
.
A Yellow-green Vireo has returned to a Brownsville neighborhood for the 
sixth year.  From Boca Chica Blvd. (Rte 4) between Billy Mitchell Blvd. 
and Clubhouse Rd. take E. Cowan Terrace north to Heather Lane through 
at least June 16. The Yellow-green Vireo’s territory is centered on 
this intersection.  Please, be considerate when birding in residential 
neighborhoods.

.
A Wood Thrush was in Edinburg through mid-June.
.
A Hook-billed Kite was near Pintail Lakes at Santa Ana NWR on May 28.  
A Yellow-green Vireo was singing from the levee road east of the main 
road on June 16 and continued in the Pintail Lakes area June 24. Three 
Purple Gallinules were also present.
.
Red-crowned Parrots are wandering more widely to feed and roost and are 
not always easy to find in the summer, as their locations are more 
unpredictable.  They are most often seen in flight.  Red-crowned 
Parrots are sometimes seen in the area of Quinta Mazatlan, Valley 
Nature Center and Estero Llano Grande State Park.  Green Parakeets 
often stage before going to roost in McAllen on North 10th Street 
between Violet and Dove in the evening.  Both Green Parakeet and 
Red-crowned Parrot have been seen in Harlingen (near Pendleton Park), 
Pharr (sometimes at Allen Williams residence on Sam Houston), and 
Brownsville.
.
At Salineno, Red-billed Pigeon and Muscovy Duck are presumably still 
present along the river near Salineno although we have no recent 
reports.
.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are at San Miguelito Ranch about 10 miles north 
of Raymondville. There is a fee to access this site, and prior 
arrangements are required (Leticia Tijerina, 956-369-3118 or 
buny55ATaol.com). Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are found on the King Ranch 
(Norias Division) and often at El Canelo (no recent news).  They are 
also heard (and rarely s
een) at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in 
the pre-dawn hours. Remember, the use of tapes is not allowed at 
Bentsen or many LRGV sites.  Always ask before using tapes.
.
Traditional sites for White-collared Seedeaters are at the San Ygnacio 
County Park/Seedeater Sanctuary (still flooded?), Zapata near the pond 
at the south end of 9th Street, and Laredo.
.
The Wikibird guide provides birding site information for the Rio Grande 
Valley at http://wikibird.org/wiki/Rio_Grande_Valley_birding_guide
.



Mary Gustafson
Mission, Texas



Most Recent RBAs

Hosted by: The Virtual Birder®
Originated from: National Birding Hotline Cooperative